Hockey Ireland Update
Hockey Ireland Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATE No. 4
9 April 2020
Hockey Ireland on 26 March announced that the 2019/20 hockey season for all league, cup and all other domestic hockey competitions in Ireland are deemed to have finished.
The Hockey Ireland Board and Hockey Ireland Branches are acutely aware of the scale of the health crisis facing the island of Ireland at this time, as well as the energetic strain that Covid-19 is currently placing on people in all aspects of their lives. In a time of such uncertainty for everyone, the Board and the Branches are keen to provide clarity, while also respecting the magnitude of effort each player, coach, umpire, volunteer, school, club and hockey entity has invested into this season.
The Hockey Ireland Board, in consultation with the Branches and on recommendation of the Competitions Working Group, have decided the following:
- The EYHL 1 and 2 season 19/20 has been stopped and has been declared null and void as there are too many games left to play to determine a fair final ranking by mathematical or other method.
- The EY Hockey Champions Trophy is cancelled for the 19/20 season.
- There will be no automatic promotion/relegation in the EYHL 1 and 2.
- The Board of Hockey Ireland has asked the EYHL Competitions Group to consider options of increasing the number of teams in the EYHL league(s) for the 20/21 season and report back to the Board with their recommendations. The Board have also received proposals to explore a full season EYHL2 concept and the Board have asked the EYHL Competitions Group to look into the viability of implementing this and make recommendations to the Board.
- European club competition places will be determined at a later stage by the Board pending the outcome of the current European season and a conclusive decision from the European Hockey Federation (EHF).
- The Hockey Ireland Branches will use a percentage equalisation method to complete league standings in their respective province. It is up to each province to make decisions on relegation and promotion and the Branch competition rules apply.
- Branch Cup Competitions: If Cups are at Semi Final or Final stage or can be completed, they are postponed. The Branches will look for an opportunity to play these (early) in the 2020/21 season. If no opportunity arises, the Cup competitions will be cancelled.
- Hockey Ireland Cups, Hockey Ireland Trophy and Hockey Ireland Challenge Finals and Semi Finals are postponed. Hockey Ireland will look for an opportunity to play them (early) in the 2020/21 season. If no opportunity arises these competitions will be cancelled.
Other Hockey Ireland competitions CANCELLED:
- Kate Russell All Ireland Schoolgirls Championships 26th & 27th March
- John Waring All Ireland Schoolboys Championship 1st April
- June Smith Competition 2nd April
- National U15 Girls Championship 9th May
- National U15 Boys Championship 10th May
- Junior Interprovincials 16th &17th May
- U13 Championships 30th May
Hockey Ireland would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time and appreciates the efforts many of you are going to in order to continue training while at home.
Please keep safe. For further information on Covid-19:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
If you have any further queries, please email info@hockey.ie
Community Call Intiative
Dear All
By way of update, in response to Covid-19, the Government has launched “The Community Call”, a major initiative that links local and national government with the community and voluntary sectors.
The Community Call is an unprecedented mobilisation of both state and voluntary resources to combat the effects of Covid-19. The purpose of the Community Call is to coordinate community activity and community assistance to where it is needed.
The immediate focus is on the elderly and the most vulnerable, and mobilising rapid response in every county to make sure everyone is looked after. In the coming weeks the focus will expand to broaden the wellbeing of our society and how communities can work together to help the country through the Covid-19 crisis. Launching the initiative, Minister Ring stated “Since the very start of this emergency, the community and voluntary sector has been working on the ground and also at national level with my Department, to prepare for the Community Response which we are outlining today. One of our greatest assets in this country is the strength of our local, community and voluntary networks.
We are now asking that those networks – formal and informal – be mobilised so that everyone in our communities can look after each other. If your neighbours or relatives are required to stay at home – check with them to see if they need supports. And if you are in that category yourself, don’t hesitate to ask for help – whether it’s with shopping, fuel delivery, collecting medicines or any other necessities of daily life. The Local Authority helpline is there as a safety net, to ensure that everyone is looked after”.
The Community Call will be overseen and managed locally by Local Authorities. Led by the Local Authorities Chief Executives, the dedicated community Forum in each county will coordinate and connect the wide range of services and supports available in their specific areas. The forum involves an extensive list of state and voluntary organisations. A dedicated phone line is now operational in every county (details attached) and the national number 0818 222 024 is also now in operation.
We have also produced a further leaflet – COVID-19 – Advice when giving supports/receiving supports – to add to the communications pack which we issued on 20th March. This leaflet provides practical advice when helping neighbours or family members with practical supports like shopping. It gives you steps to make sure how to do this safely. For anyone who has asked for assistance, the leaflet also sets out what to expect and also practical advice on when letting someone into your home.
As part of the valuable resource of community and voluntary organisations, we are asking that you bring this information to the attention of your community, especially our leaflet – COVID-19 – Advice for people when lending a hand.
Our email support help desk is also available for queries from community and voluntary organisations at C&Vsupports@drcd.gov.ie
More information is available on Gov.ie where information and practical supports are updated regularly.
The Department of Rural and Community Development
